Anyone know how to remove the right rear cargo trim panel on a B6?

[osunick]

My strap broke and I'm trying to install a replacement. I can't seem to figure out how to get behind the carpeted panel (the same one with the 12V power jack). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-n.

[lookaught]

You need to remove:

-the floor panel that folds up and the floor
-the four D rings, these are torx screws
-trunk sill trim, the part that covers that latch hole along the edge
-rear seat "post" its attached to the side of the car and is up front, the seat latches to it when upright. Te remove you should technically loosen the nut on the base, but I have a very extensive toolbox and couldnt find something to fit that very well. In the end, one side came out by just turning hte allen, the other started to strip so I clamped on vice grips. Make sure you count the threads that are showing b/c when you put it all back together this is an adjustment, so you want the same number to be showing when its all buttoned up.
-a screw along the D pillar. There may be a few, I can't remember. One is up where it meets the headliner where it changes from side panel to light grey headliner. Im pretty positive these are all torx.

Once all that stuff is removed, the panel is held in by four clips. They are an enormous PITA to pop out, and you must do it carefully or you can break the mounting points for them. There are two along the rear edge where the hatch closes and two farther up kind of in the middle... one near the very top of the panel just forward of the halfway point and the other is pretty much in the middle of the panel, a little forward of the halfway point. These are the hard ones to remove. You just pull STRAIT out to get them to release. Its takes a lot of force, and makes a loud and horrible noise when you do it.


Sound complicated? It is. Luckily, I have a picture of the back of the panel showing these clips, but it is on my home computer. I will try to post it tonight, but no promises as Im going to the Steelers game and may not get around to it. If I dont post it send me a reminder.

[lookaught]

HOw much did that strap cost? Mine has been broken since I bought the car. Have a part number? I have a black interior.

You MAY be able to get away with just removing the floor and reaching up from below to replace that strap. The pic I have of the back of the panel may show enough detail to see how it's attached. I would try this first, as getting the whole thing off is a quite a hassle.

[mnkyA4]

OH! I need to fix mine as well, but doesn't seem worth the trouble of taking off the back panel though

[osunick]

mine was about $40 from genuinevwaudiparts.com just do a search for "strap" in the body parts catalog for A4 wagon. Thanks all for your advice!

[lookaught]

Red circles are the clips, green are the holes they go into. You can't really see the hole on the very top, i just circled the general location. Hope this helps!

EDIT: just for the archives, the other size is also pretty much the same, just in reverse.

[osunick]

Got help from shedpress- here's his post:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197299

Be sure to scroll to the end as he revised his directions. I actually did it a little differently. Removed both luggage hooks and reached in from the back of the car. Since you can pull out the inside end of the strap once you detach the little trim piece, you don't actually have to remove the panel. Thanks everyone for their helpful replies!